AUSTRALASIAN FIRE AUTHORITIES COUNCIL EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002

PHONE: +613 9 ,119 2388 FAX: +613 9419 2389 www.afac,com.au afaMafac.com.au ABN 52 060 049 327

6th February 2007

Commissioner Roderick Fraser Boston Fire Department 115 Southampton Street Boston, MA 02118 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Dear Commissioner Fraser, Research Into the Effectiveness of Photoelectric and. lonisation Smoke Alarms The Australasian Fire Authorities Council. (AFAC) is the peak representative body for fire, emergency services and land management agencies in the Australasian region. AFAC develops information papers and position papers consultatively with member agencies to guide our members in these areas. AFAC would like to convey our thanks to you for the research work undertaken in the area of photoelectric and ionisation smoke alarms by Deputy Chief Joseph Fleming of the Boston Fire Department. , The papers written by Deputy Chief Fleming were part of the research that was utilized in developing the AFAC Position on Residential Smoke Alarms. A large literature review was carried out and Australian data investigated before this position was developed. Research papers included the 1980 paper by the International Fire Chiefs Association, the Indiana Dunes Test, NIST Technical Note 1455, the Kemano Fire Studies, NFPA and Homeland Security papers, several works by Bukowski, Johnson and Milke and many, other publications. This literature review plus research into the Australian statistics allowed AFAC to develop a position on Residential Smoke Alarms, which is the guideline for all fire services in Australia. The papers written by Deputy Chief Fleming especially his paper titled-"Photoelectric and lonisation detectors - a review of the literature revisited" were
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considered an important part of the research for the AFAC Position on Domestic Smoke Alarms. Please convey our thanks to Deputy Chief Fleming for his important part in this research. A copy of the AFAC Position on Domestic Smoke Alarms is attached for your perusal. Yours sincerely

NAOMI BROWN Chief Executive Officer

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